Philosophy of Education

  1. Since John Dewey developed his Experimentalist or pragmatic philosophy and applied it to education, his approach has been vigorously debated. Proponents of Dewey’s Method, many of whom are professors of education, emphasize learning by experience through the scientific method. Opponents of Dewey’s method claim that it lowers academic standards and achievement by weakening systematic subject-matter learning and encouraging relativistic values. Should Dewey’s Experimentalist method of inquiry be the basis of teaching and learning in American schools? What is your argument?